Defence Secretary instructs IGP to probe Mahara Prison unrest

COLOMBO (News 1st): Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne has instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), C.D. Wickramaratne to probe into the tense situation escalated at the Mahara Prison on Sunday (Nov. 29), the Ministry of Defence said in a statement issued today (Nov. 30). "The Defence Secretary has directed the IGP to conduct a special investigation following the tense situation reported at the Mahara Prison after several inmates were reported to have struggled to escape the prison premises demonstrating unruly behaviour, the press release issued by the Ministry of Defence noted. According to the Defence Ministry press release, initially, the Prison officers got involved in easing off the situation. However, when it was noticed that the incident escalated to an intense riot, they had summoned Police and Special Task Force to the premises. Subsequently, the Police arrived at the scene and strengthened the security of the outer perimeter of the Prison. The agitated inmates set fire at the Prison Health Office and Stores areas and it had raged until this morning. According to the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Prisons confirmed that the fire has been completely doused and the routine Prison operations were resumed.